Calico box

ABSTRACT

A multi-sided gift box with water-repellant exterior surfaces of organic and inorganic material designs, such as wallpaper, cloth, leather and suede.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This Invention relates to a gift box as an article of manufacture, and aprocess of manufacturing same.

2. Background of Prior Art

Gift boxes are well known in the arts. They are made of paper, cardboardand various woods, which in finished form take the shape of a carton orbox for containing valuable gifts. Generally, they have an exteriordesign which is colorful, ornate, and appealing to the eye. As of late,because of their cost and beauty, an effort has been made to make themreusable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the Invention to have a gift box which isreusable.

A further object of the Invention is to have a gift box that is shippedin collapsed form, to save space, to a merchant or user and easilyformed into a box or carton to receive and protect a gift.

Another object of the Invention is to have diverse sizes of boxesshipped to the merchant or user to facilitate the accommodation ofvarious gift sizes.

Still another object of the Invention is to form the box having alaminated structure which includes a base material having bonded to itsexterior a material bearing an appealing design.

Further still, another object of the Invention is to have the boxmaterial with an exterior surface which is washable.

Again, another object of the Invention is to have a gift box that can becollapsed and stored, and then reformed many times and reused fordiverse gifts through the years.

So also, another object of the Invention is to provide an inner liner ineach box bearing a scent, for example, and/or one of a multitude ofdesigns.

Another object of my Invention is to provide a transparent window in thegift box so that one may view the contents.

Still another object of my Invention is to partially assemble my giftbox for easy fabrication by the user by providing a collapsed structurefor shipment.

SUMMARY OF MY INVENTION

It is conventional to form gift boxes with a “pre-wrapped” exterior bylaminating the outer wrapping or cover to a stronger paperboard backing.My Invention is formed in the same way, but I provide for the outercover or wrapping to be washable. I do this by providing the exteriorwith a water repellant cover or varnish the cover with a transparentwater repellant coating or overlay. Further, if desired, I provide theinterior of the box with an attractive inner lining, either matching theexterior or comprising a different appealing color, design or texture.

The backing can be comprised of a reformable metal, plastic, paperboardor combination thereof.

The wrapping or box exterior can be comprised of diverse materials madeup of different colors, designs and textures, all designed to bepleasing to the eye. The wrapping or exterior can include wallpaperdesigns, cloth and plastic fabric designs, quilt appliques, leather andsuede complimented by dyed muslin strips: tea-stained muslin strips andribbon, for example. Also, individual components such as dots, stars,squares, etc. can be adhered to the exterior.

The boxes, for stability, are provided with adhesive layers, Velcro orstaples on the hold down tabs.

The interior of the boxes can be scented and walled with many designslike those used on the exterior, for example. Also nesting material inthe form of fill or bags can be used on the box interior to softlycradle the contents.

On the exterior of the box, if the outer layer is not waterproof, perse, a transparent waterproof overlay can be provided as by coating orheat sealing an overlay thereon.

The box is first made by making a blank laminate from sheet stockbacking material while in flat form. This is done by cutting theexterior form with bottom, sides and a top with tabs to hold the box inassembled shape. Also, while cutting to size, the fold lines are alsoimpressed where necessary to allow for easy bending of the parts.

For special orders, the exterior can include, photos, personal writings,art work, book pages and individually disposed components such as dots,dashes, figures, etc. adhered on to the design layers.

DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a portion of the blank in laminated form.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of a carton or box blank, with bottom, top andsides and securing tabs.

FIG. 3 shows my gift box 60 in partially collapsed form prior to use ofshipment. The side walls 11-14 are bent at fold lines to form asustained rectangle after securing tab 20 to the inside of wall 10 byany form of permanent adhesive.

FIG. 4 shows a 3-sided box blank that can be formed as described below.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF MY INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, I show my blank 10 in flat shape before forming itinto my box or carton shape. It is cut to shape and provided with foldlines 30, 29, 31, 32, 15-19 and 35-37. The outer layer is bonded theretowith adhesive or bonding material (any well known material will sufficeas long as it is flexible when hardened). If the outer layer is waterrepellant, once the bonding material dries, the blank is ready to beformed into the gift box shape. If the outer layer is not waterrepellant, it is provided by a transparent coating or overlay. Numerouscommercially available repellants can be used. So also, a heat seal typeoverlay can be used. Blank 10 is comprised of side panels 11-14, a top28 and bottom panels 24-27.

In assembly, side panels 11-14 are bent at the fold lines until arectangle is formed then tab 20 folded at fold line 29 is caused toengage panel 14. It is secured thereat by adhesive, glue, staples or, ifpre-assembled, by Velcro components. Once this is done top 28 is foldedat fold line 19 to engage side panel 13. Then top 23 is folded at foldline 30 to engage the inner side 13 and secured thereat.

Then tabs 21 and 22 are folded at fold lines 32 and 31 respectively, toengage top panel 28. Then bottom panels 25 and 27 are folded at foldlines 16 and 18 respectively to slightly overlap and touch each other.Then bottom panels 24 and 26 are folded at fold lines 15 and 17respectively to engage bottom panels 25 and 27 whereat tabs 33 and 34are slipped into cuts 36A and 37A to render my completed box.

This formed box can then be dismantled by reversing the steps to renderthe composite flattened for storage as shown in FIG. 3.

To temporarily secure the tabs, Velcro, water-soluble glue, heat sealglue, clips or staples can be used. If one does not want to return thebox to flattened form, permanent glues and epoxies can be used on thebottom.

Referring to FIG. 1, I depict my laminate 70 comprising base backing 2,bonding material 3, design or outer layer 4 and water repellant overlay5. If outer layer 4 is water repellant the overlay coating on layer 5need not be applied. In the event one desires an inside liner in thebox, layer 1 should be adhered to back 2.

The outer covering layer with the design can be any type of organic orinorganic fiber, denim, lace, wallpaper, burlap, velvet, leather, suede,photos, book pages, personal handwriting and artwork.

Overlay or outer transparent layer 5 can either be integral with thedesign covering 4 or an overlay placed thereover by a coating or heatseal operation. The important aspect of my Invention is to provide mybox outer layer of design covering impervious to water so that the boxin final form is washable.

To form the blank a conventional laminating press can be used. To cutthe blank to size and form fold lines a box cutting press is common inthe art. The blank cutting and fold lines can be made either before orafter the laminating process.

Also, as a display, numerous formed boxes having various coloredcoverings can be temporarily secured together with glue dots so that theassembly would resemble a quilt.

For easy shipment, as shown in FIG. 3, I join the structure 60 withadhesive at side 14 with tab 20. Then the structure can be collapsed toflattened form for easy shipment or storage.

To provide for visibility of the contents of my gift box, I can cut awindow in one or more sides of the blank and laminate transparentmaterial thereto on the intended inside of the box. This can be any formof plastic sheeting secured with adhesive.

My box is made in the following fashion for more ready comprehension.Stock material of paperboard, light metal, or plastic is bonded to oneof the above mentioned design materials. Water repellant is overlaid thedesign material if it is not water repellant as by heat laminating or awater seal coating. Then the stock material laminate in flat form is cutto shape with fold lines provided as shown. Once this is accomplishedtab 20 is adhered to the inside of side wall 14 by any well knownadhesive. Sides 11-14 having fold lines are bent thereat to render thestructure depicted in FIG. 3. More sides then four can be provided inthe blank without departing from the Invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, blank 50 is a three-sided box type. Sides 51 and 53are bent 120° at fold lines 54 and 55 and tab 56 is bent at fold line 57and overlapped side 53 at its far end. It can be secured thereat withadhesive, for example. Then tabs 60 and 61 are bent at fold lines 62 and63 to right angles. Then top 58 is bent at fold line 64 to engage sides51 and 53 at the inside of each and secured as by adhesive. Then bottom59 has tabs 65 and 66 bent at fold lines 67 and 68 and bottom 59 is bentat fold line 69 so that the tabs engage the inside of sides 51 and 53and secured thereat with adhesive to render a closed gift box. If onedesires that the box be collapsed, it is suggested Velcro strips be usedon the tabs and placed so that the loop engages opposing hooks of theVelcro components. The three-sided box can be provided with designoverlays in the same way as the blank of FIG. 2 is formed. It isemphasized that the 3-sided box of FIG. 4 cannot be collapsed as theblank formed with 4 or more sides as depicted in FIG. 3.

In summary, while preferred forms of my Invention have been shown, it isclearly understood that various changes could be made without departingfrom the Invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A gift box comprising a laminate made up of a backing material, aouter design overlay cover from the group including water repellant,wallpaper, organic or inorganic fibers, quilt appliques, leather andsuede bonded to said backing and formed into a box for a gift.
 2. Theclaim of 1 further including muslin strips and ribbons there over.
 3. Agift box comprising a laminate made up of a backing material, an outeroverlay design material from the group including non-water repellantwallpaper, fabric, pictures, book pages, lace, quilt appliques andhandwriting bonded to said backing and, a water repellant covering thereover; and formed into a box to receive a gift.
 4. The Invention of claim1 wherein the box is only partially formed and collapsible for shipmentand fully formed at time of using.
 5. The Invention of claim 3, whereinthe box is only partially formed and is collapsible for shipment andfully assembled before use.
 6. The process of forming a gift boxcomprising the following steps: Providing a stock backing material ofpaper, thin metal or plastic; Bonding to said backing material a desireddesign material from the group composed of wallpaper, organic orinorganic fibers, quilt appliques, leather, paper, suede, pictures, bookpages, lace and handwriting; Coating said design material with waterrepellant material if it is not water repellant; Cutting the said stockmaterial and bonded design material to form a gift box blank, having atop, plural sides, and bottom parts wherein one side has a tab andfurther providing fold lines in said blank; Folding the sides at thefold lines and forming said tab to the far sidewall with adhesive; andcollapsing the box to flat form for shipment.
 7. In preparation for usebending the top and bottom parts at the fold lines to engage matchingsides and rendering the completed box.